Los Angeles Chapter – 2023 Education Day

Join GBTA Los Angeles for our annual Education Day being held at the California Yacht Club in Marina Del Rey!

Through dynamic and interactive education seminars and networking, the GBTA Los Angeles Education Day offers travel industry professionals the opportunity to gain valuable insight into business travel, technology trends and enhancements. This program will include travel industry top of mind topics featuring multiple speakers that are experts in their fields, and will feature special DE&I and Wellness segments that are sure to inspire. Make sure you bring plenty of business cards as you connect and network with our table top exhibitors during the breakfast (hosted by Enterprise and National Car Rental ), lunch and break hours for a chance at some raffle prizes and come prepared to take your professional headshot, complements of Amadeus Cytric Solutions .

See below for a special promotion from one of our meeting sponsors, Copa Airlines.

*As we continue to finalize our topics and speakers, please check back here for additional updates and a more detailed agenda in the next few weeks.

Agenda (subject to change)

8:00 am – 9:00 am: Registration and Table Top Exhibits
8:30 am – 9:00 am: Breakfast (Hosted by Enterprise & National Car Rental), Headshots (hosted by Amadeus Cytric Solutions) and Table Top Exhibits
9:00 am – 9:10 am: Opening Remarks
9:10 am – 9:15 am: Sponsor Spotlight – CTM
9:15 am – 10:15 am: Hotel Session
10:15 am – 10:25 am: Break
10:25 am – 11:25 am: AI Session
11:25 am – 11:30 am: Sponsor Spotlight – Fragomen
11:30 am – 1:00 pm: Lunch, Headshots (hosted by Amadeus Cytric Solutions) and Table Top Exhibits
1:00 pm – 1:03 pm: Sponsor Spotlight – Enterprise Holdings
1:03 pm – 1:30 pm: Wellness Program
1:30 pm – 2:30 pm: Sustainability Session
2:30 pm – 2:40 pm: Break
2:40 pm – 2:43 pm: Sponsor Spotlight – Amadeus Cytric Solutions
2:45 pm – 3:45 pm: NDC Session
3:45 pm – 4:45 pm: DEI Session
4:45 pm – 5:00 pm – Wrap Up
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm – Cocktail Hour

Parking

Free

Topics & Panelists this year include

The strong comeback of Hospitality and it’s current challenges (a Hotel Industry panel)

Moderated by

Steven Van Overmeiren
Associate Director, Global Travel Services -Baker McKenzie

While revenue per available room (RevPAR) recovery is exceeding expectations, labor shortages are still creating challenges for hotels. The hospitality industry is adapting to meet challenges by adjusting amenities, outsourcing more and increasing reliance on technology.

Panelists

Sylvie Rothenberg Jon Elliot
Global Account Director Managing Director
IHG Hotels & Resorts BWH Hotel Group

Lee Palmer-Turner Steven M. Van Overmeiren
Corporate Travel Manager Associate Director, Global Travel Services
MGM/Amazon Baker McKenzie

Jeanne Norton, CTC, CCTE, GLP
Director of Global Travel & Expense
OSI Systems, Inc.

What is DE&I and why is it important for your organization? (an inspirational fireside chat with industry leader and Ph. D. Dr. Alexis Mootoo)

Moderated and conducted by

Dr. Alexis Mootoo, Ph. D.
Associate Vice President -University of South Florida

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are important to company culture because they foster creativity, fresh perspectives, and understanding. By implementing DE&I, people of different races, abilities, ages, genders, religion, sexual orientation, and other diverse backgrounds can be made more comfortable in the workplace

Ready or not…NDC 2.0 is here! An honest and open discussion between industry leaders.

Moderated by

Chris Lefevre
Vice President Program Management -BCD Travel

Consistent to our Education Day 2022 session on this hot topic, we’ll be hosting an open discussion about New Distribution Capability’s current and foreseeable impact on corporate travel. NDC initiatives continue to gain traction globally, but what does this mean from a commercial, technological, traveler experience, and overall managed corporate travel program perspective? Our panel of experts representing the Direct / Buyer, Travel Management Company, and Online Booking Tool / Global Distribution System will be sharing their views on NDC’s outlook for corporations and their travelers both short- and long-term. Be sure to join what will likely be one of most dynamic panels!

Panelists

Joel Bailey Fred Bowen
Chief Technology Officer Sr. Director, Corporate & Global
North America Business Accounts
CTM Amadeus

Kelli Erving Chris Lefevre
Global Travel Manager Vice President Program
Equinix Management
BCD Travel

Sustainability on Meetings and Events (an industry leaders conversation on how M&E can successfully thrive and maintain green initiatives)

Moderated by

Mary Ellen Eichler
Director, Worldwide Sales -Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts

&

Brian Landers
Senior Vice President & Team Director -Conference Direct

Learn from industry leaders on how your organization can take steps to create a plan around sustainability with your events. As a growing initiative within many companies, it’s important to keep abreast of the different ways you can implement sustainability, these initiatives can be adopted into your live events.

Panelists

Mary Ellen Eichler Brian Landers
Director, Worldwide Sales SVP/Team Director
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts ConferenceDirect

Larry Hanson Sarah Jensen
Chief Marketing Officer Co-Founder & CEO
ConferenceDirect Hugh & Grace

AI in corporate travel… is it an enhancement or replacement to the human experience? (an industry leaders panel on the emerging role of Artificial Intelligence in the Corporate Travel space)

Moderated by

Jessica Hurley-Jones
Associate Service Manager -American Honda

Panelists

Atyab Bhatti Jessica Hurley-Jones
Co-Founder and CEO Associate Service Manager
SkyLink American Honda

Miriam Moscovici Vaughn Davis
VP Partnerships & Research General Manager
BCD Travel Dream Hollywood

Bring Wellness to your workplace (an interactive and fun “wellness in Travel” session)

Moderated and Conducted by

Nicole Mixdorf
Chief Wellness Officer, Balance by Nature

This fun, interactive and energizing wellness session is designed to provide a powerful toolbox of skills to reduce stress, build resilience and enhance performance in the workplace. What you learned today can also be applied while you are and your travelers are on the road. A wellness session with Nicole is a true treat!